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Luke 12:35-48
When will He return 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. |
Margin notes:
"Let your loins be girded." (12:35) - In Jesus' day, a man preparing to work would lift the hem of his robe and tuck it into his belt to give him more freedom of movement. This was called girding. The message here, be prepared to meet Jesus (Acts 12:8; 1 Peter 1:13). "Watching." (12:37) - Again, be ready to meet Jesus. "He shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them." (12:37) - "Jesus will gird Himself and have them sit down to eat, and He will come and serve them." "Second watch." (12:38) - From 10 PM to 2 AM. "Third watch." (12:38) - From 2 AM to sunrise. "The goodman of the house." (12:39) - "The owner of the house." "Not have suffered his house to be broken through." (12:39) - "Not have allowed his house to be broken into." "The Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (12:40) - "The Messiah will come at a time you least expect." The Bible repeatedly tells us that no one knows when Jesus will return, but we should be prepared (Matthew 24:36; 24:42-44; Luke 21:33-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3;16:15. "Steward." (12:42) - A minister or religious leader. "To give them their portion of meat in due season." (12:42) - "To give them their food at the right time." "Blessed is that servant." (12:43) - The devoted servant represents the faithful follower of Christ. "Will come in a day when he looketh not for him." (12:46) - "Will come on a day when he does not expect him." "Cut him in sunder." (12:46) - Means, "cut him to pieces." This represents the harshness of the final judgment. "Appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." (12:46) - "Assign him a place with the unfaithful." "Beaten with many stripes." (12:47) - "Beaten with many blows" (Numbers 15:27-30; Deuteronomy 25:2). |
